Family traditions connect children to an occasion and to their family. Some traditions encourage spiritual development such as Sunday church or bar mitzvahs, some determine values such as caring for the poor or elderly and some celebrate cultural identity such as Kwanzaa or Independence Day. Many families have rituals that are uniquely their own. Practicing traditions is a way to share and express love for one another.

Developing family traditions can be easy, low cost and create fun times together. The key to creating a new tradition or continuing existing ones is consistency. The activity must be repeated weekly, monthly, or yearly. Try some of these ideas:

• Choose a recipe, perhaps one that’s been in your family, and make it for special occasions or to give as gifts for birthdays and/or holidays.
• Put on a play every year. Invite friends and neighbors.
• Celebrate the diverse heritage of the world we live in by celebrating another culture’s holiday.
• Sleep under the stars every summer solstice or other night each year.
• Create a time capsule on New years Day or on birthdays. List goals and intentions for the coming year. Children can trace a handprint and/or draw a picture. List height and weight. Add a recent picture. Place these in a decorated box or other container and bring it our the following year. How has the birthday girl or boy change? Did he or she fulfill their goal? Do this each year.